Champions League Match Thread (22 and 23 October)

Zososoxfan

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Jul 30, 2009
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South of North
And we're back!

22 October
Leverkusen @ Atleti
Zagreb @ Donetsk
PSG @ Brugge
Madrid @ Galatasaray
Lokomotiv @ Juve
Atalanta @ Citeh
Bayern @ Olympiakos
Belgrade @ Spurs

23 October
Chelsea @ Ajax
Zenit @ Leipzig
Lyon @ Benfica
Napoli @ Salzburg
Dortmund @ Inter
Valencia @ Lille
Liverpool @ Genk
Barca @ Prague
 

Zososoxfan

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Spurs not being broadcast in the US. Would have to pay $3 to get it on B/R. Normally I'd be irate by this, but with Spurs' recent form this is mercy.
 

Tangled Up In Red

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Nov 8, 2004
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Spurs not being broadcast in the US. Would have to pay $3 to get it on B/R. Normally I'd be irate by this, but with Spurs' recent form this is mercy.
F* it, I'm spending the $3 and watching the beginning of a majestic season turn-around.

Toby and Rose dropped
Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Ndombele, Sissoko, Dele, Lamela, Son, Kane (C)
4-2-3-1
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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F* it, I'm spending the $3 and watching the beginning of a majestic season turn-around.

Toby and Rose dropped
Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Ndombele, Sissoko, Dele, Lamela, Son, Kane (C)
4-2-3-1
We will not forget your great faith during a time of struggle.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
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No one watching?

Pulisic on in 67th minute, matching up against Dest. Still 0-0.
 

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Getting ready to watch...

Liverpool with some turnover from the weekend, but Big 3 Strat up front: (4-3-3) Alisson; Milner, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

I'm excited to see Keita. He moved the ball very well in his minutes at Old Trafford. I hope he can stay fit and provide the kind of incisive passing through the middle that Henderson & Wijnaldum don't regularly attempt.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
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Pulisic has seemed to play well for Chelsea when he's played. When he was starting earlier this year he seemed to be involved. Then he was benched for a few games. Now he's back as an impact sub and producing again.
 

cromulence

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Aug 25, 2009
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Willian and Hudson-Odoi were both pretty bad today. Hopefully this gets Christian back in the mix to start.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
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Every 3 pm game except one is currently 1-0 in the 34th minute.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Wait, you rooted for Pipa but not the Argentina NT?!?
I thought he meant he cheers for Pipita to do well for the NT, but cannot support his club's success while at Chelsea (as you do for Pulisic), but that doesn't make sense either because Higuain never played for Argentina during his time in London.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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I thought he meant he cheers for Pipita to do well for the NT, but cannot support his club's success while at Chelsea (as you do for Pulisic), but that doesn't make sense either because Higuain never played for Argentina during his time in London.
No, Opposite.
 

Zososoxfan

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Barca hung on for dear life in the final 10 minutes to leave Prague with 3 points. Messi got on the score sheet early from a nifty Arthur pass, but the chance was created primarily by excellent team pressing from Griez, Suarez, Busi, FDJ, and Semedo:

View: https://streamable.com/xem2w


Barca dominated the first hour or so, but Prague definitely grew into the match. As the match wore on, I noticed Pique and Busi getting dragged out of position, and this bit them in minute 50:

View: https://streamable.com/jm4p0


Busi's not fast enough to bust his ass and get back. Not sure what Semedo is doing just watching the first man in the box.

Minutes later though, Suarez pulled Barca back out front with a quintessential 'hustle but also kinda crazy skill-technique' Luisito goal off a Messi FK:

View: https://streamable.com/ek6uf


Ernie's first sub was to take Griez off for Dembele. This meant that the front 3 would be doing minimal pressing and it also coincided with sustained pressure and dominance from Prague. If EV is trying to save Antoine's legs for...(checks notes) 12th place Valladolid next Tuesday (due to the Clasico postponement), then I'd be OK with this, but EV has been pretty set in not playing Dembele or Griez on the RW much. Since Messi drifts to the middle EVERY TIME, Semedo was stranded on the right flank for the last half hour for the bajillionth time.

Dembele came in and did his usual Jeckyl and Hyde act--he had bad turnovers and didn't put in much effort on defense, but galloped through open space with insane speed at times and created some good chances.

EV must've realized how bad Barca looked, yet waited about 10 minutes before bringing on ninja-turned-footballer Vidal for Busi. Vidal almost gave away a pen shortly thereafter. Rakitic came on for Arthur to confirm that EV recognized how shitastic the team looked down the stretch. Some huge MATS saves and last ditch defending from the CBs kept this one as a W for the Blaugrana.

TL;DR - the team is playing better compared to its dreadful early season performances, but EV still doesn't inspire confidence with his in-game adjustments.